Comments: Written for the Beya 2013 28 Days of John and Teyla.
Takes place between "Meeting Minds" and "Lightning Strikes".
Part 1John wandered through the room while Rodney fluttered from console to console in the adjoining room behind him. In comparison to the room behind him, this one was almost bare. There was an object off to one side whose shape teased his memory, but he couldn't place it. Maybe something from when he was younger…? Four stubby legs supported a wheel with a pointy spindle next to it. There appeared to be a foot pedal attached to it and a low stool sat beside it.
The center of the room was occupied by a tall upright slab. It was suspended slightly above the floor by two arms that rose from the floor. There was also a circular groove in the floor around it that suggested that the slab could be moved. John tried it, but the slab refused to budge. Perhaps there was a control for it in the other room.
He meandered over to the odd contraption, his attention drawn to the tip. The light in the room was diffused, but the tip seemed to glow brightly as if asking to be touched. He reached out with his right hand, running his fingers along the narrowing shaft to the point He felt a prick when the pad of his thumb reached the obviously sharp tip.
Pulling his hand back, John glanced down at the drop of blood welling from his thumb then popped it in his mouth to clean the blood off. After a moment, he removed the injured digit, checking for more blood. Seeing none, he turned to continue his examination of the room.
He had only taken a few steps when he started feeling dizzy. He heard a soft grinding noise as he staggered to one side. Another wave of dizziness hit and he stumbled backwards, feeling the slab against his back. His vision started tunneling in, the edges of the room turning dark. He tried to call out to Rodney, but found he lacked the strength to do so. A sudden wave of warmth flowed through him, causing his knees to buckle as the room tilted and the hovering darkness closed in.